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Week
Ending September 17, 2006

Agricultural Summary

Rain interrupted harvest activities for many farmers during the week
and slowed the dry-down of maturing crops. Sporadic progress was still
made in corn and milo harvest, keeping the harvest pace at or above normal
on a statewide basis for those crops. Rice harvest is ahead of normal
in the Bootheel, while the cotton harvest is in its initial stages. A
smattering of wheat seeding and soybean harvest were the other activities
of the week. Topsoil moisture supplies are rated 20 percent
very short, 30 percent short, 48 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus,
an increase of 6 points in adequate to surplus over last week. There were
5.7 days suitable for fieldwork.

Field Crops Report

Ninety percent of the corn crop is mature, 3 days ahead
of last year and 5 days ahead of the 5-year average of 83 percent. Harvest
is 44 percent complete, 1 day ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal.
Field reporters continue to find yield coming in higher than expected.
Soybeans turning color is at 67 percent, 1 day behind
last year but 3 days ahead of normal. Thirty-two percent is dropping leaves,
1 day behind last year but 1 day ahead of normal. Six percent of the crop
is mature, marginally behind last year and average. Condition of the bean
crop rates 6 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 39 percent
good, and 7 percent excellent, a slight improvement from last week. Ninety-three
percent of the sorghum crop is turning color, even with
last year but 3 days ahead of normal. Sorghum mature is at 65 percent,
1 day behind last year but 4 days ahead of average. Sorghum harvest is
23 percent complete, about even with last year and the normal pace. Condition
of the crop is rated 1 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 40 percent
fair, 44 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Rice
harvest is 29 percent complete, 9 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead
of normal. Rice condition is rated 2 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 55
percent good, and 32 percent excellent. The portion of the cotton
crop opening bolls advanced to 71 percent, 3 days ahead of last year and
5 days ahead of normal. Cotton harvest is 2 percent complete. Condition
of the crop is 5 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 67 percent good, and 6
percent excellent.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition rates 35 percent very poor, 24 percent
poor, 22 percent fair, 17 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. While
statewide pasture condition has steadily improved in recent weeks, most
of the gains have been in the northwest and north-central districts. Other
districts continue to languish with most of their pastures ranging from
fair to very poor in condition. Lack of livestock water and winter hay
supply remains a concern in the southern two-thirds of the State.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were marginally below normal by 1 to 2
degrees over most of the State, with a few southern counties 3 to 4 degrees
below average. Rainfall averaged 0.85 inches for the
week, ranging from 0.44 in the east-central district to 1.21 in the northwest.